Load orientating device

ABSTRACT

A device (10) for orientating a load to be suspended and moved by a crane includes a flywheel (11) mounted for rotation in a housing (14). A turntable (17) is pivotally connected to the housing (14) and is drivable relative to the housing using a driven worm gear (23) meshing with an annular set of teeth (22) on the turntable (17). The turntable has an axle (18) to which loads can be attached. When the flywheel (11) is spinning at high speed, it resists movement out of its plane of rotation so as to stabilize the cable in winds, etc. The flywheel (11) also allows the worm gear to react against it so as to turn the load relative to the flywheel (11). Maneuvering of the load is therefore made easier.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a load orientating device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a load orientatingdevice comprising a flywheel mounted in a flywheel housing for rotationtherein about an axis such that, in use, the flywheel is able to rotateonly in a single plane, drive means for rotating the flywheel, turntablemeans pivotally connected to said housing for selective rotation about asecond axis and adapted to be secured to said load and second drivemeans fixed relative to the housing for rotating said turntable means.

Preferably said plane of rotation of the flywheel is substantiallyvertical, said first axis is substantially horizontal, and said secondaxis is substantially vertical and perpendicular to said first axis.

In one embodiment said flywheel housing is adapted to be suspended onthe lifting cable means of a crane such that the second axis is coaxialrelative to the general lengthwise axis of the cable means. Convenientlysaid second drive means comprises a motor and gear means, the turntablemeans also being provided with corresponding means for meshing with saidgear means, preferably in the form of an annular array of teeth. In oneembodiment the gear means comprises a worm gear.

In another embodiment of the present invention the turntable means isattached to the hull of a vessel such that rotation of the turntablemeans changes the orientation of the hull about the second axis of theturntable means.

In a preferred embodiment the vessel is a submersible vessel and saidhull encloses the load orientating device.

It is a further preferred feature that a further load orientating deviceis attached to the hull with said second axis perpendicular to thesecond axis of the first device so as to move selectively the hull in aperpendicular plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in moredetail. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic part-sectional side view of a load orientatingdevice according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a schematic part-sectional front view of the device of FIG. 1,and

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view through a vessel incorporating aload orientating device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view through a vessel incorporating twoload orientating devices according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a load orientating device 10 for use with a crane oreven with a load suspended from any suitable height such as a buildingor an aircraft. The following discussion will, however, only mention thecrane application.

The device 10 comprises a flywheel 11 secured on a shaft 12 mounted inbearings 13 in a flywheel housing 14 which in this embodiment is fullyenclosed for safety purposes. The shaft 12 is adapted to be driven inrotation by motor means 12' at high speed. The housing 14 incorporated ahole 15 by which the device 10 can be secured to the lifting cable orcables of the crane.

Disposed in the base 16 of the housing 14 is a turntable 17 having anaxle 18. The turntable 17 is able to rotate relative to the housing 14,which rotation is facilitated by the provision of annular bearings 20.The free end 21 of the axle 18 is adapted to have a load secured to itby any suitable means. The turntable 17 is generally circular and isformed with teeth 22 around its periphery.

The teeth 22 of the turntable 17 mesh with a worm gear 23 which ismounted for rotation in the base 16 of the housing 14. The worm gear 23is driven by a second motor 24 which is secured relative to the housing14 and which can be selectively actuated to move the worm gear 23 ineither rotational direction thereby moving the turntable 17 in eitherdirection relative to the housing 14.

When the device 10 is to be used it is attached to the cable means ofthe crane. The flywheel motor is actuated and the flywheel 11 is causedto rotate at high speed. The precise speed will of course depend on theloads which are to be moved and also on the geometry of the flywheel 11itself. The high speed rotation of the flywheel 11 results in theflywheel 11 having a strong tendency to remain in a single plane byvirtue of the gyroscopic effect. Thus the arc-like movement of the jibof the crane results in the flywheel remaining in parallel planes whenthe jib is moved. If a load is attached to the end 21 of the turntableaxle and the jib is moved then the load retains its orientation relativeto the housing 14.

The inertia of the spinning flywheel 11 is sufficient for the worm gear23 to react against such that when the worm gear is turned, the load isable to rotate relative to the flywheel 11 and its housing 14. Thisrelative rotation of the load does not affect the orientation offlywheel 11 to a material extent.

It will be appreciated also that the inertia of the spinning flywheel 11also resists movement of the housing as a result of external forces suchas wind. This ensures that the crane cable, the flywheel and itshousing, and the load remain in vertical alignment throughoutmanoeuvres.

The stability and orientating ability of the device means that it willnot be necessary for a load to be guided and stabilised by men holdingguide ropes as is the present technique. The device 10 resists movementof the flywheel out of its plane of spinning.

In FIG. 3 there is shown a submersible vehicle 30 or ROV having a hull31 and a propulsion means 32. Such vehicles are used to observe and filmthe ocean or structures located underwater such as oil platforms andpipelines or even the undersides of ships. Normally such vehicles have anumber of directional drive means or boosters for altering theorientation of the vehicle. However, such boosters tend to disturb theocean floor or cause excessive turbulence.

The vehicle 30, therefore, incorporates a load orientating device 10,the load being the hull 31 which is attached to the free end 21 of theturntable axle 18. In use the flywheel 11 is rotated at high speed andthe hull 31 can be orientated by selective rotation of the turntablemotor 24. The flywheel 11 remains in the same plane while the hull 31 ofthe vehicle is rotated so as to face in a different direction.

A second device 10' could also be mounted in the vehicle as shown inFIG. 4 such that the turntable axle 18' is also attached to the hull 31but is perpendicular to the axle 18 of the first device. In this way thesecond device 10 could be used to control the pitch and yaw of thevehicle 30.

It will be appreciated that the shape, size and speed of the flywheelare a matter of design choice depending on the future purposes of thedevice. Although a worm-driven turntable has been described, othersuitable drive means are possible both for the turntable and also theflywheel itself.

We claim:
 1. A load orientating device for a load comprising:a flywheela flywheel housing having a first axis fixed with respect to saidhousing about which the flywheel is mounted for rotation such that, inuse, the flywheel rotates only in a single plane relative to thehousing, a drive means for rotating the flywheel, a turntable means,connected to said housing for selective rotation about a second axis,for securing the load rotatably relative to the housing, and a seconddrive means fixed relative to the housing for rotating said turntablemeans.
 2. A load orientating device as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidplane of rotation of the flywheel is substantially vertical, said firstaxis is substantially horizontal, and said second axis is substantiallyvertical and perpendicular to said first axis.
 3. A load orientatingdevice as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flywheel housing includes amember by which said housing is adapted to be suspended on a liftingcable of a crane such that the second axis is coaxial relative to thegeneral lengthwise axis of the cable.
 4. A load orientating device asclaimed in claim 3 wherein said second drive means comprises a motor andgear means, the turntable means also being provided with correspondingmeans for meshing with said gear means.
 5. A load orientating device asclaimed in claim 4 wherein said corresponding means is in the form of anannular array of teeth.
 6. A load orientating device as claimed in claim4 wherein the gear means comprises a worm gear.
 7. A load orientatingdevice as claimed in claim 1 wherein the turntable means is attached tothe hull of a vessel such that rotation of the turntable means changesthe orientation of the hull about the second axis of the turntablemeans.
 8. A load orientating device as claimed in claim 7 wherein thevessel is a submersible vessel and said hull encloses the loadorientating device.
 9. A load orientating device as claimed in claim 8wherein a further load orientating device is attached to the hull with asecond axis thereof perpendicular to the second axis of the first deviceso as to move selectively the hull in a perpendicular plane.